The local poor farm in Blackford County was known by a number of names including the County . . . Poor House Farm, Farm, Infirmary, Poor Asylum, and (after 1962) “Green Acres.” This volume looks at this county institution from its beginnings in 1865 until its closure in 1989.

After the first two chapters of background, other chapters examine the twenty-two persons who served as superintendent of the county farm. Along the way, human interest stories are included together with changes in the system initiated by the State of Indiana which eventually transitioned “inmates” to “residents.” Various building projects including the building in 1916 of a new infirmary structure are explained in detail. A number of scandals which shocked the county are examined.

Several appendices include those inmates who died and infants who were born at the infirmary, those admitted suffering from mental illnesses, an annotated and revised listing of those buried at the infirmary made by Cecil Beeson, and more.